IPMAN crisis threatens fuel supply in Delta

Events at the Warri, Delta State, depot of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) may lead to fuel scarcity in Delta State.

There is a worsening leadership crisis in the association.

An inauguration ceremony of the association’s executives was published in some dailies last week.

But the development allegedly bypassed a statutory election, as required by the body’s constitution.

The chairman of the Warri IPMAN branch, Chief Akpoviri Edafevwotu, described the inauguration as a scam and the names published as new executive members as impostor.

The IPMAN chairman said the tenure of his administration would expire in November 2015, as guaranteed by the association’s constitution.

Edafevwotu, who was flanked by other members of his executives at a media briefing in Warri, said the newly inaugurated Chief Benjamin Emoefe-led administration was a scam.

He alleged that it violated IPMAN’s amended constitution.

The IPMAN chairman urged the residents to remain calm, adding that the association would ensure that the crisis does not affect the supply of products.

He said: “We were surprised to see in the papers that a group had declared itself the new leaders of IPMAN at the Warri depot. The amended constitution is very clear and the national body’s position is unambiguous. The executive committee I lead remains in office till 2015 before elections are considered. And there is a court order suspending election because of some issues.

“So, any purported election anybody is banking on to create a parallel leadership and cause confusion is null and void. My advice to relevant authorities, including the Delta State Government, Uvwie Local Government Area and the public, is that there is no cause for alarm. We assure the public of steady dispensation of our primary business of making products available.”